Lotus has confirmed Romain Grosjean for 2013

Retired Formula One driver Michael Schumacher has taken part in a bike all-star track day at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. In a  Monster Energy sponsored meet-up, Schumacher rode alongside motorcycle legends John McGuimness, Randy Mamola and rising Moto2 star Pol Espargaro. "Coming here today I felt so proud to be able to turn my hand at riding a bike with guys I really admire," said Schumacher. "I can’t begin to explain how much fun it was to ride the track with the likes of […]

The FIA's Garry Connelly has explained the reasoning for Romain Grosjean's one race ban following the Belgian Grand Prix. Grosjean was judged to have caused an accident which eliminated Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez from the race at Spa-Francorchamps. "That incident could have completely changed the outcome of the FIA’s premier championship," he said in an interview with AUTO magazine. "But what Romain got the extra penalty for was not that, or at least not wholly for that. When you’re a relatively new […]

Robert Kubica has admitted he will not be returning to Formula One any time "soon". With Lotus apparently dithering over a new deal for Romain Grosjean, wild rumours at the Interlagos finale last month suggested the team might have an eye on Kubica. The talented Pole has been out of F1 since the end of 2010, because in the weeks before the 2011 season, he was seriously injured in a rallying crash in Italy. "I was hoping that I'd be back behind the wheel of […]

Lewis Hamilton has thanked McLaren after six years with the team. Hamilton was battling with Nico Hulkenberg for the lead when the duo made contact, eliminating the Brit from the race. "Huge congratulations to Jenson – and to Sebastian too", he said. "It’s a shame we weren’t able to seal second position in the constuctors’ world championship together, but we did our best. Congratulations to Sebastian, too – his team kept it together and, under a lot of pressure, they pulled through today", he added. […]

Sebastian Vettel expressed his joy after finishing on the podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel started from the pit lane and despite contact with Bruno Senna and a DRS board, he made it up to 3rd place. "It was a good race for us today, a big chance for Ferrari and Fernando, but we didn’t allow it. I enjoyed it a lot today, more than anything. I damaged the front wing pretty early with Bruno, which was not ideal, but we were able […]

Nico Rosberg has been released from the medical centre after his frightening accident at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Rosberg was making his way back through the field after contact with Romain Grosjean when he was launched over the back of Narain Karthikeyan. "My car felt competitive today so it's a real shame not to have finished the race and scored some points. Unfortunately that chance was gone after the first lap incident with Romain, after which I had to come into the pits for […]

Kamui Kobayashi has apologised to Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg for causing a collision at the start of the Korean Grand Prix. Kobayashi clipped Button and Rosberg, eliminating both of his rivals. Button criticised Kobayashi after the incident, although the Japanese Grand Prix hero said sorry to his victim. "This is a race to forget. Initially I had a good start but then we were four cars side by side approaching turn three. I had Nico (Rosberg) to the right and Jenson (Button) and Sergio […]

Maria de Villota has revealed she was "terrified" when she saw her facial injuries for the first time. Marussia's female test driver was critically injured when the front of her helmet struck the loading ramp of a transporter during a straightline aerodynamic test earlier this year. She has now spoken for the first time since the accident, giving an interview to the Spanish weekly magazine Hola! The magazine featured de Villota, with short cropped hair and wearing an eye-patch over her lost right eye, on […]

Maria de Villota will on Thursday make her first public appearance since losing an eye in a Formula One test crash in early July. Spain's Europa Press news agency said the 32-year-old former Marussia test driver will update the world about her recovery from the serious accident during a press conference in Madrid to also be attended by Spanish motor racing federation chief Carlos Gracia.

Mercedes leave Japan empty handed after a difficult day in Suzuka. Nico Rosberg was eliminated on the first lap, while Michael Schumacher managed only eleventh after his lowly grid slot. "I had a good start to the race but unfortunately it ended fairly quickly today. In the first corner Grosjean spun into Webber and that also led to my accident. I began to brake but Senna crashed into me from behind which destroyed my rear tyre and meant that I had to retire", said Rosberg. Schumacher felt he […]

Lotus team principal Eric Bouiller has said that his team will be pushing as hard as possible to provide Kimi Raikkonen with a shot at the world title. Raikkonen lies third in the championship with 149 points, 45 behind leader Fernando Alonso. But Bouiller is insistent that the team is not giving up. When asked about the prospect of challenging Ferrari for third place in the Constructors Championship, the Frenchman was bullish. "Their package is fast but they are mainly relying on one driver. That […]